Local players help UNC-Pembroke spoil Charlotte 49ers first football homecoming game

CHARLOTTE – As a first-year NCAA Division I football program, the Charlotte 49ers have gained a significant amount of respect.

Still, it’s not surprising the school would schedule a NCAA Division II opponent for its inaugural homecoming opponent.

The problem with such logic?

That opponent turned out to be unbeaten and nationally-ranked UNC-Pembroke.

The Braves, who felt disrespected by being the homecoming choice, showed why they’re unbeaten and ranked No. 13 in one NCAA Division II poll with a dominating 45-22 beating of the 49ers in front of 16,630 at Jerry Richardson Stadium.

And since UNC-Pembroke had 14 players from the Charlotte area, including five from Gaston, Lincoln and Cleveland counties, one had to wonder exactly who’s homecoming it really was.

“It was great to come be a part of the first season over here,” said Jason Perry, a UNC-Pembroke senior wide receiver and 2009 East Lincoln High graduate. “The future of this program is going to be great, but we’ve got a really good team, too, and this was a really good homecoming for us.”

Five of the Braves’ local products are from Charlotte, with two from Kannapolis, one each from China Grove, Mooresville and Salisbury, in addition to Jason Perry, his younger brother Preston Perry (East Lincoln Class of 2010), Gastonia’s Joshua Shanks (North Gaston 2008), Shelby’s Tommy Pettis (Crest 2012) and Ed Hopper (Kings Mountain 2012).

Since UNC-Pembroke (5-0) was idle last week, Jason Perry actually came to watch Charlotte’s 53-51 come-from-behind win over Gardner-Webb.

He left impressed with the 49ers’ grit and determination but admits he was disappointed to see so much made of his school being the homecoming opponent.

“It offended us a little bit,” Jason Perry said. “It’s like being in high school all over again when people schedule their homecoming opponent because they think you’re a slouch.

“We felt like we had to show that even though we’re a Division II school, we could play with Division I teams.”

The Braves did that and then some in rolling up 503 yards total offense and limiting the 49ers to 382 yards total offense and forcing four Charlotte turnovers (three fumbles, one interception).

“They were what I thought they would be coming in,” said 49ers coach Brad Lambert, whose 4-3 team is off until Oct. 26 at Charleston Southern. “They were well-prepared, they played extremely hard and they just outplayed us today.

“We just couldn’t get into a rhythm like we’ve been doing – and a lot of that has to go to UNCP.”

Luke Charles, a redshirt senior quarterback from Murphy, directed the Braves’ offense and threw for 403 yards on 43-57 accuracy with three touchdowns. Rontonio Stanley added two touchdowns rushing and UNC-Pembroke scored at least one touchdown in each quarter.

Page 2 of 2 - Only at 8-7 – and after Charlotte scored on a trick play on a two-point conversion – did the 49ers even hold a lead.

“It was pretty frustrating at times,” said 49ers quarterback Matt Johnson, who completed 25 of 40 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns. “Their defensive line was very, very quick off the ball.”

It made for a more comfortable homecoming for the local quintet of the Perrys, Shanks, Hopper and Pettis.

Jason Perry caught three passes for 30 yards, Preston Perry had one quarterback hurry, Hopper made one tackle and Shanks and Pettis were substitutes.

Jason Perry posed for a pregame picture with East Lincoln coach Mike Byus, who was on a recruiting visit with current Mustangs’ lineman Coriyo Boyd, in addition to meeting before and after the game with fellow 2009 East Gaston graduate Brandon Strupp; Strupp is the 49ers’ punter who had six kicks for a 40.3 average and was Charlotte’s designated special teams flag carrier when the team entered the field.

“It was really a lot of fun, but I still think we can get even better,” Jason Perry said. “We haven’t put together a full game this year and haven’t played at our peak. Hopefully, this will help push us to get to play 15 weeks this season and end in the D2 championship game.”

A NCAA Division II independent, UNC-Pembroke will be hoping to be an at-large pick for the postseason playoffs that begin on Nov. 23.

You can reach Richard Walker at 704-869-1841 or by twitter.com/JRWalk22